JD 1207 Haybine

Looking at how we will harvest a small hay field we will put in next year. A small haybine looks attractive for the task. Wondering how large of a tractor would be required to run a small one like the JD 1207?? Would anyone here happen to have one or to know the answer?? Would prefer long term to cut and bale my own if we can.
Chris

Re: JD 1207 Haybine

I don't know how much help i can be since I have never owned a mower conditioner but the ones that I have seen have required at least a 50 horse pto tractor to pull a small mower conditioner. In this area I don't know any hay growers that run moco's due to their cost and high maintenance. Everyone runs disc mowers or drum mowers. I run a PZ drum mower and love it. You can run a five foot drum or disc mower with a 35 to 40 horse tractor. I gave about 3200 for the drum mower and I think that size disc mower runs about 1500 or so more depending on the brand. I don't think you can buy any moco new for less than 10,000 or so. Most used ones will probably be requiring a good bit of work to get them in good shape unless you are lucky. From what I have read you do not gain significant drying time in grass hay with the moco if you use a hay tedder following the mower. I would definitely recomend a tedder,it cuts the curing time and helps to put up higher quality hay. Good luck!

Re: JD 1207 Haybine

For a 1207 you'd probably want to be at 65 hp. Could get by with less if you had to but 65 hp would be a good fit for that unit mower conditioner.

I disagree with the high maintenance comment. We've got a couple older ones and the only maintenace is greasing them, cleaning them up and changing the mower blades every so often. All in all they are very hardy units.

Re: JD 1207 Haybine

We used a NH 489 this summer sort of, the conditioning rollers have delaminated and it was useless in the long late first cut. A friend with a JD discbine came and mowed at about 3 times faster than the haybine in best conditions.

The haybine ain't too bad, but when it is worn out, replacing wobble boxes, gear boxes and bearings can be a major pita. The NH 488's are a lot easier to work on than the 489.

The 489 is 9 ft wide and we used an IH 584 and Case/IH 585 to mow with (both 52 hp and 8000&amp;5000lb respectively). No issues with weight or power even in the long stuff. We have some 15% grades to get to the fields so the weight of the tractor coming down was the most limiting factor to hold the mower back.

Re: JD 1207 Haybine

I guess I should have given more info on what I'm trying to do. We have 3 acers that we would like to put into hay for our horses, small field, small field with tight turns. Because none of it will be for sale, strictly for our own use, want to keep the number of implements and investments small. The JD 1207 used looks like it can be had for under $1000. Rebuilding not a issue, I'm a machinist with a full shop at home. Don't want to have any equiptment like a tedder if it can be avoided for reasons of storage. Hopeing that the conditioner and the hot Nevada sun would take care of the proper drying. Baler I'd be looking at again for some of the same reasons would be a sidewinder, or a JD 14T, or a JD 24T. No good reason to stay with JD outside of local parts availability. Other things that will factor in is that the tractor I now have has 30 PTO HP. Might need a larger tractor to pull this off. Storage issues will limit me to having only 1 tractor. Speed in the field cutting or baleing shouldn't be a issue with this small of a field. Last thing I should consider would be if we end up with the other 5 acers to our south and plant that as well. Could be a better way to do this small acerage but I don't know what it might be at this point. Horse people tell me that horses prefer the "conditioned" hay. If that is the truth then cutting with a sickle bar is out. That is what brings me around to looking at a Mower/Conditioner about the size of a JD 1207. Any and all suggestions appreciated, thanks,
Chris

Re: JD 1207 Haybine

Ok I agree if you're looking at something that is completely worn out. I guess I was thinking of something with some age but still had good mechanics. Anything that is worn out is going to be a major pain.

Re: JD 1207 Haybine

Where do you live in Nevada? A tedder in NV is worthless. A tedder is useful in areas where it's high humidity, you're trying to beat the rain, etc. In your area it's hot, dry, NO humidity, and rarely rains. I question why you would even bother trying to do hay on 3 acres. 3 acres you'll maybe get a couple tons to the acre. By the time you figure your labor, fuel, and $ in machinery, depreciation, etc. you will never make that come out even. I'm not sure about hay in NV but all the good alfalfa you want can be had for $75/ton or less in Idaho. At those prices I don't see how you can even consider making your own hay unless it's just going to be a labor of love.

Re: JD 1207 Haybine

Chris in our area the biggest problem is the machine has moulded rubber rolls that the rubber comes off the same as New Holland machines. Tough to get the hay to dry with out it.. Many of the seven foot mower conditoners were only rated for thirty five horsepower. Depending on the tractor that you have it might get by.

Re: JD 1207 Haybine

Cowboydoc makes many good points. Three cuts a year at about 2 ton per acre, 18 tons per season. One horse = about 3 1/2 ton per year. 4 horses = a little less than 15 ton. Price is almost right on the money for the local market at about $75 a ton. I guess I could buy feed for less than $1200 per year. I have 11 acre feet of water that came with the property yearly and it would be nice to use this. ( $ 80 worth of extra property taxes pays for it if you use it or not ) Also I could put the land into pasture and get the same ground cover effect as a hay field. Perhaps spending a couple of thousand on equipment to harvest and bale hay might not be a good investment. My math says that in a couple of years I should come close to breaking even. I know older equiptment will need some repairs, parts, cost of fuel, etc. Custom baleing in this area runs $35 per ton. At that rate it would cost as little as $630 for someone else to cut and bale. Not many will be interested in this small of a lot. Moisture isn't a problem, cut hay drys fast here. Location= Smith Valley NV. Still considering the options before we start shopping for equiptment. Thanks,
Chris

Re: JD 1207 Haybine

I ran a 1217 for about 10 years. Which is about the same machine. I used a 574 IH which is 52 HP to pull the 1217. What I would be concerned with is the weight of the tractor. I feel sure I could have used something in the 40-45 HP range if the tractor was heavy enough. Where I live it's rolling hills. Any tractor under 5,000 lbs. and turning at the corners on hills may present a problem. Get the right swing on the conditioner in a turn and it'll slide the rear end of the tractor around when turning. Not a good feeling on a hill side.